Lisa Nuzzolillo

The Smothering

Characters: Angela, Carol, Laura, Peggy, Patrick, Joe, Tom (all undergraduates approximately 20 years old).
Time: 4:00 in the afternoon into the middle of the night.
Place: A University

Scene 1
The scene is a dorm room. There is a bed against one wall, a computer desk opposite, and a stereo, refrigerator,
and card table with chairs in the center, slightly set back. Angela walks around the room, cleaning up and preparing
to do homework. She is talking aloud to herself.
ANGELA: Okay. As soon as I finish cleaning, I will start the paper. It’s 3:00 now, and class isn’t until 4:30 tomorrow,
so I’ve got over 24 hours. This is not a problem. (stops and looks around) Okay, I guess I can start. (she sits at
computer, profile to the audience and shuffles papers, finally reads) Do a close reading of one of the soliloquies
we have not gone over in class from any of the plays we’ve read so far. Be sure to include similes, metaphors, blah,
blah, blah, themes...no problem. Okay, which play should I pick? (puts the books in front of her) Eenie, meenie, miney,
moe, catch a... (knock at the door) It’s open! Carol enters. She has a piece of paper and the books in her hands.
CAROL: Have you done this yet? ANGELA: I was just starting. You?
CAROL: I don’t know which to do. Which did you pick?
ANGELA: Umm, this one (holds up book, then turns it) Othello.
CAROL: I can’t choose. Of course, maybe that’s because I can’t hear myself think. I think the guy above me must be
having an avalanche in his room because I keep hearing banging.
ANGELA: Maybe he’s moving furniture.
CAROL: Or maybe he’s really fat and doing jumping jacks and my ceiling will crumble under all the weight, smashing
my computer and trapping my paper inside the room so I won’t have to hand it in tomorrow.
ANGELA: Ah, but your plan is flawed, Wise One. You have your books with you, and even if you didn’t, you could
borrow someone’s or use the library’s. And we have computer labs, so the computer thing won’t work either.
CAROL: Dammit. There goes that idea.
ANGELA: A little wishful thinking never hurt anyone. Do you know if anyone else has done theirs?
CAROL: I heard Tom say he planned on drinking tonight, so I doubt he’ll be doing his anytime soon. And Peggy was
going to meet Joe, but I don’t think she wrote the paper yet. She mentioned something about having to have a
serious talk with him, so I don’t think she’s thinking about a paper right now.
ANGELA: Is she dumping him?
CAROL: I don’t know. He’s cute though.
ANGELA: Stop that thought process right there. You can’t go out with a friend’s ex.
CAROL: Why not?
ANGELA: It’s in the girl rulebook. You must wait at least three months before making any kind of move, and you
have to check with Peggy first to make sure everything’s cool.
CAROL: What if she says no?
ANGELA: Unfortunately, the handbook doesn’t include those details. However, most of us have the understanding
that it depends on how she says no. If she’s nice, but like, sad about it, then you stay away because she may be
regretting it and want him back. But if she’s all bitchy and doesn’t want you to have him because she doesn’t want
anyone to be happy, then you go for it, because who wants a bitch for a friend?
CAROL: Once again, you enlighten me. I’m ordering Chinese, you want any?
ANGELA: Yeah, the usual.
CAROL: I’ll go order, we’ll work on our papers until it gets here, then we’ll eat.
ANGELA: No, I think I’ll procrastinate a little longer.
CAROL: Well, it’s not fair if I do work and you don’t.
ANGELA: Then we can procrastinate together. What’s on TV?
CAROL: Just pick a show that won’t require concentration or thought, maybe one of those dumb talk shows. I’m
going to go order.
ANGELA: Sounds good. You know, why don’t you see if Laura wants to join us. Unless she’s busy.
CAROL: Is Laura ever busy?
ANGELA: I bet she did her paper already.
CAROL: Bitch.
ANGELA: Hey now, it’s not her fault she has nothing better to do with her time than homework. Actually, I take that
back, it is her fault. She’s just quiet. I’ll call her. (finds the wire to the phone and follows it to the receiver, dials a
number) Laura, it’s Ang, we’re ordering Chinese, wanna come over? Okay... Oh, you saw her? Is she okay? Oh.
Well, if you hear anything else, let me know... Okay, we’ll see you in 25 to 30 minutes. Bye. (hangs up) She’s trying
to work on the paper, but will come when the food gets here. She wants an eggroll and that’s it. But guess what
else she said.
CAROL: Some intriguing gossip, no doubt.
ANGELA: Peggy just left her room crying.
CAROL: You’re kidding! Did she say why?
ANGELA: No, but I would assume it has something to do with Joe.
CAROL: Should we go talk to her?
ANGELA: I think she’s gone now. Besides, if we go talk to her when she’s all upset, she’ll know that we know
something’s wrong, and she’ll know we were talking about her. I say we leave her alone until she comes to us.
CAROL: But I wanna know what’s going. What if Joe dumped her before she could dump him?
ANGELA: I thought you didn’t know if she was dumping him?
CAROL: Well, technically, I don’t. But why else would you say you had to have a serious talk with someone? That’s
usually the kiss of death.
ANGELA: Not necessarily. She may have to tell him something else.
CAROL: Do you know something I don’t know?
ANGELA: No, no, of course not. I’m just saying . . .
CAROL: Just saying what? You know something!
ANGELA: I do not! And if you don’t stop harrassing me, I’m not going to tell you what I don’t know.
CAROL: So you do know something?
ANGELA: Maybe.
CAROL: Come on, tell me. I won’t tell anyone.
ANGELA: Your past record does not back up that statement.
CAROL: Those were slips.
ANGELA: Telling your best friend’s boyfriend that she was cheating on him after she swore you to secrecy was a slip?
CAROL: Yes!
ANGELA: Carol, you wrote him a note to tell him.
CAROL: He had a right to know! Besides, I could’ve sworn he winked at me in that way.
ANGELA: What way?
CAROL: You know, that way. Like he was interested.
ANGELA: And were you right?
CAROL: Okay, how the hell was I supposed to know his eye sporadically does that?
ANGELA: Just go order the food.
Carol exits. Angela turns to her computer, and lights fade to blackout as she stares at the screen.

Scene 2
Angela’s dormroom. She is sitting at the computer but fiddling with two pens when there’s a knock at the door.
ANGELA: It’s open!
Patrick enters the room, slams the door shut.
PATRICK: That’s it! I can’t take it anymore! If I had a gun, I don’t know who I’d shoot, Tom or myself!
ANGELA: Problems with the roommate?
PATRICK: If he hangs up one more picture of a naked woman, I’m going to hurt him! I swear the boobs follow
me around the room like eyes. (Angela laughs) It’s not funny.
ANGELA: Yes it is. Look, so Tom’s an obsessive sex maniac. Who cares? It’s not like he manages to bring real girls
home every night.
PATRICK: Yeah, luckily for me, he’s generally pathetic in that department. Tonight oughta be interesting. He’s
going to a bar. Should we place bets now on how shitfaced he’ll be when he gets home?
ANGELA: Carol and Laura should be here soon for Chinese- - we’ll place bets then. Until then, as you can see, I’m
working very hard at procrastinating. A little privacy please.
PATRICK: Okay. Give me a call when you’re all done eating. I’ll see you later.
ANGELA: See you.
Blackout.

Scene 3
Angela, Carol, and Laura seated at various places in Angela’s dorm room, empty Chinese cartons scattered
around. Angela hangs up the phone.
ANGELA: I called Patrick, he’ll be down in a minute...
Well, I suppose we should start the paper, or discuss it or something.
LAURA: You guys didn’t start yet? Are you nuts? It’s due tomorrow.
CAROL: You’re done?
LAURA: No, not exactly. But I did start it.
CAROL: Ooh, Miss Laura has not finished a paper that’s due in less than 24 hours, pigs must be flying over a frozen Hell!
LAURA: Shut up. If I wasn’t bothered all weekend by Peggy and her problems, it would’ve been done by now.
ANGELA: How is she?
CAROL: Yeah, come on, share the dirt you know.
LAURA: Hey, what Peggy said was in confidence. She swore me and Angela --
CAROL: (turning to Angela) So you do know what’s going
on!
ANGELA: Not if it’s going to get me in trouble.
CAROL: Come on, it’s not fair that you two know and I don’t.
LAURA: I can’t, Peggy always talks to me about her problems in secret. If I tell you, she won’t trust me, and she
won’t tell me anything.
ANGELA: That may not necessarily be a bad thing. I swear that girl can drive me up a wall -- she calls all the time
to tell me all this shit about her life that I could care less about. (knock at the door) It’s open! (Patrick enters) Maybe
if I tell her secrets to other people she’ll stop bitching to me.
PATRICK: Who’s bitching?
ANGELA: For once, not you.
CAROL: Peggy.
PATRICK: Oh, I just saw her. She pulled into the parking lot like a madwoman when Tom was leaving. I was hoping
maybe she’d hit him with the car, but no such luck.
ANGELA: He left for the bar already?
LAURA: Isn’t it kind of early to go drinking?
PATRICK: We’re talking about Tom, not a normal person.
There is a loud banging offstage, and we hear a Peggy’s voice screaming for Laura.
CAROL: I guess Peggy’s back.
Laura walks to the door, opens it and yells.
LAURA: Peg, I’m in here, come on over!
Peggy walks into the room and slams the door.
PEGGY: I hate him!
PATRICK: Who?
PEGGY: Joe!
PATRICK: Oh, well excuse me for not knowing every detail of your life!
LAURA: Why do you hate Joe, Peg?
PEGGY: Because he’s an asshole!
ANGELA: I could’ve told you that.
CAROL: Now, now, Angela, you can’t be helping with comments like that. Peggy, honey, why don’t you sit right
down here and tell us what’s going on. And start from the beginning. And include as many juicy details as you can.
LAURA: Carol! Stop trying to get information!
CAROL: Well how the hell can I help unless I know what’s going on?
ANGELA: Suprisingly, she has a point.
CAROL: Of course I have a point! Now Peggy, did you and Joe have a fight?
PEGGY (sarcastically): No, I hate him because he’s got better hair than me. Of course we had a fight! And it’s all
his fault.
LAURA: What happened?
PEGGY: Well, I told him we needed to have a serious talk, so he just assumed I wanted to break up with him.
CAROL: See! Didn’t I say that? The words “serious talk” are the kiss of death! Everyone knows that, even Joe.
PEGGY: Anyway, I told him that I didn’t want to break up, I just had to tell him about what’s been going on.
CAROL: And what’s been going on?
PEGGY: I didn’t tell you?
LAURA: No, remember, Peg, you didn’t want to tell Carol because you said she had a big mouth.
CAROL: What?!
ANGELA: Don’t try and act all innocent, Carol, you know it’s true. We had this discussion earlier.
CAROL: Fine. Just tell me what’s going on. What, did you sleep with another guy?
PEGGY: Yeah. But there’s more to it.
CAROL: Pregnant?
PEGGY: No!
CAROL: Disease?
PEGGY: God, no!
CAROL: Well what then?!
PEGGY: I haven’t slept with Joe yet.
CAROL: Are you kidding? What the hell are you waiting for?
PEGGY: I don’t know! I didn’t mean to sleep with that other guy, but I was drunk---
ANGELA: Pretty cliche, huh?
PEGGY: I didn’t know what I was doing! But Joe didn’t say anything when I told him. He just shook his head and
walked away! What kind of reaction is that?
PATRICK: Maybe he didn’t care.
PEGGY: Why wouldn’t he care? I’m his girlfriend!
PATRICK: A girlfriend who cheated on him. You didn’t care too much when you were sleeping with that guy, did you?
ANGELA: Patrick, shut up. Peg, he was probably just too upset to say anything. I’m sure he cares though.
PEGGY: Then why did Patrick say that?
CAROL: Because he’s an idiot.
PATRICK: Fuck you.
ANGELA: He’s mad at Tom and he’s taking it out on you. I’m sure Joe cares. He was probably just really pissed and
didn’t know how to react, so he didn’t say anything.
CAROL: So, what are you going to do now? I mean, are you and Joe broken up or what?
PEGGY: I don’t know. I need to talk to him, but I don’t know if he’ll talk to me. She looks pointedly at Angela.
ANGELA: What’re you looking at me for? Oh no! No, no, no! I am not getting involved.
PEGGY: Please Angie! Joe will talk to you and you can convince him to at least talk to me. I’ll owe you.
ANGELA: You’ll owe me? Peg, I can’t get involved in this. Frankly, I know far more than I needed to know in the first
place. And between keeping all your shit a secret, dealing with Patrick and his problems, and the fact that I have a
paper due tomorrow, I’m swamped. My brain seriously can’t handle anymore, and if I try and help you with Joe --
PEGGY: Angela, you’re exaggerating everything. I’m not asking you to get Joe to stay with me, I just need you to
convince him that we have to talk.
CAROL: I’ll do it, Peg.
PEGGY: Don’t take this the wrong way, but Joe doesn’t like you. So thanks, but Angela needs to do it. She’s the only
one he trusts. So Angie, will you do it? Please?
ANGELA: Oh, fine.
PEGGY: Thank you so much! You can call him tonight, right?
ANGELA: Tonight? Well, tonight isn’t a good night, but maybe tomorrow --
PEGGY: No, no, it has to be tonight. The sooner the better.
ANGELA: In that case, everyone out. I have a paper to write, and I have to plan out this thing with Joe.
LAURA: Okay, we’ll leave then.
CAROL: Do you want any help? I could help you scheme.
ANGELA: I think I can handle it.
LAURA: Of course you can. We’ll just leave now.
Laura pushes the others out the door. Angela sits a minute, then goes to the phone and dials.
ANGELA: Joe? How are you?... I heard about you and
Peggy ... Well, she told me ... so, do you want to talk about it? ... Okay, that’s fine then. I’ll see you later. Bye.
She hangs up the phone and sits at the computer.
ANGELA: Okay, I have at least an hour before he gets here. I can write some of the paper now, take a break to talk to
him, and then finish later on.
She picks up a pen and the assignment sheet and leans back in the chair as the lights fade.

Scene 4
Angela is sitting in her room, spinning in her computer chair. She stops suddenly, bolts forward in her seat, and
starts to type. There’s a knock at the door.
ANGELA: It’s open!
Joe enters the room as she continues typing.
JOE: Hey Angie.
ANGELA: Hi, how are you?
JOE: I’ve been better.
ANGELA: Yes!
JOE: What’re you doing?
ANGELA: Working on a paper.
JOE: Oh, did you just finish?
ANGELA: No, I just successfully wrote the first two sentences.
JOE: Oh, well, I suppose there’ve been a lot of interruptions, huh?
ANGELA: Yeah.
JOE: Sorry you got dragged into all this.
ANGELA: Well, I wanna help. You guys are my friends.
JOE: Yeah... so, what’s the paper on?
ANGELA: Othello.
JOE: What’s that about?
ANGELA: Um, this guy Othello who thinks his wife Desdemona is... well, actually, it’s not really important. You
don’t wanna hear about that.
JOE: Why?
ANGELA: Oh, it’s just a silly story. Not about anything relevant.
JOE: So tell me what the silly, irrelevant story is.
ANGELA: Uh, well... um... Othello thinks Desdemona is cheating on him, and uh... he, uh... he kills her. Which is a
really, really stupid thing to do! He’s insane or something! No normal human would do that!
JOE: Right, yeah... so, uh... well, what did you wanna talk about?
ANGELA: Well, what do you wanna talk about?
JOE: I guess this whole Peggy thing. I mean, you obviously are being interrupted by her, so you may as well hear my
side. Well, I don’t really have a side...
ANGELA: Basically, I know she told you she cheated on you. And I understand you’re upset. The thing that’s got
her all concerned is that you didn’t react to the news.
JOE: Yeah...
ANGELA: So... Aren’t you mad?
JOE: Oh yeah!
ANGELA: Then why didn’t you say anything when she told you?
JOE: I don’t know. My mouth just wouldn’t open. I mean, my brain was saying all kinds of shit, but I couldn’t get it
out, so I just left. I just couldn’t call her all the names that went through my mind, even though I really wanted to.
Besides, I’m sure that pissed her off even more.
ANGELA: Yeah, she thinks you don’t love her.
JOE: She’s such a drama queen! I thought she was going to dump me, then instead, I find out she screwed around
with some other guy! I was in shock! And what the fuck did she want me to say?
ANGELA: I think she justed wanted a reaction. Any reaction. Since you didn’t say anything, she thinks you
don’t care... although, actually --
JOE: What?
ANGELA: Nothing.
JOE: No, come on, what?
ANGELA: Well, she actually didn’t know what to think... I mean, she didn’t really think you didn’t care until --
JOE: Until what?
ANGELA: Until Patrick suggested it to her.
JOE: Why the fuck did he say something like that?
ANGELA: I don’t know.
JOE: And Peggy believed him?
ANGELA: Well, it did kinda make sense... Come on, wouldn’t you think that?
JOE: Maybe. Yeah, I guess.
ANGELA: I mean, Patrick suggested it, but Peggy held onto the theory. And Patrick kind of defended you. Like, how
could you care about a girl who cheated on you?
JOE: Exactly! I mean, I do care, but like I said --
ANGELA: You just didn’t know what to say.
JOE: Right. Honestly, I could’ve killed her right then. And the guy.
ANGELA: I don’t blame you. If my boyfriend, well I don’t
have one, but if I did, and he cheated on me, I don’t know who I’d go after first, him or the tramp he slept with.
JOE (smiling): A dilemma if ever there was one. That Othello guy, what did he do in this situation?
ANGELA: Well, technically, his wife didn’t cheat on him. This evil guy Iago just made it up to ruin Othello.
JOE: Yeah, but what did he do when he thought she had cheated on him?
ANGELA: Well, he tried to have the other guy, who he thought cheated with her, killed, but he ended up living.
JOE: Oh. Well, what about his girl?
ANGELA: Othello smothered her in her bed. In fact, I’m writing about the speech he makes right before he kills her.
JOE: You kinda have to respect a guy for taking things into his own hands.
ANGELA: Yeah, I guess.
JOE: Yeah... You know what, I should leave, I have some, uh, thing to do. I’ll see you later?
ANGELA: Yeah, see you later.
Joe leaves. Angela turns and picks up her book of Othello, then looks up with her mouth wide open.
ANGELA: Oh my God, what did I just do? I just told him that it was a good idea to kill his girlfriend! No, wait, Joe
isn’t crazy. He wouldn’t do that. Would he? Oh my God! What if he would? (she grabs the phone and dials) Laura,
get over here! Bring Carol! I think I just fucked up with Joe, and we gotta do something!... Just get over here! (she
hangs up the phone) Oh, shit what did I do?
Blackout.

Scene 5
Angela, Carol, Laura, and Patrick are sitting around Angela’s dorm.
PATRICK: So let me get this straight. You told Joe, basically, that it was a good idea to kill Peggy?
ANGELA: Kind of. Not in so many words.
PATRICK: How serious did he take you?
ANGELA: I don’t know. He got kind of quiet, and then said he had to leave to do something, but it was out of
nowhere. And it was right after I told him about Othello.
PATRICK: I thought you were supposed to get him to talk to Peggy, not suggest for him to kill her.
ANGELA: I didn’t actually say that! He said that you have to respect Othello for taking things into his hands, and I
said “Yeah, I guess.” That’s not telling him to kill anybody!
LAURA: No, you can’t blame Angela.
CAROL: At least not totally.
ANGELA: What do you mean at least not totally?
CAROL: Hey, you did give him the idea! Why the hell were you talking about homework anyway? You were supposed
to be helping Peggy!
ANGELA: Look! I tried to help! I always try to help! What I want to know is, why the hell am I the one who always gets
roped into doing everyone else’s shit? If Peggy had just talked to Joe herself--
PATRICK: It was Peggy’s talking to Joe that got everyone into this mess in the first place. Actually, I take that back. It
was Peggy’s cheating that got us into this. And apparently, Joe’s gonna make her pay for it.
LAURA: Stop! Joe isn’t going to do anything. For God’s sake, he’s not crazy! He’s not going to smother anyone.
ANGELA: But he didn’t seem right, Laura.
LAURA: Okay, we’ll just get Peggy, and talk to her.
CAROL: What the hell are we gonna say to her? “Head for the hills, Peg, Joe’s pissed and armed with a pillow?!”
LAURA: No, we’ll just explain we’re worried about how he’ll react, and that we want her to stay with us for the night.
ANGELA: You mean, all of us?
LAURA: Yeah. We’ll just make sure nothing happens.
ANGELA: Where are we going to stay?
LAURA: Here.
ANGELA: Here? Why here?
PATRICK: Because you’re the one who told him to kill her. Besides, my room is no good unless you want naked ladies’
boobs watching you.
LAURA: This room is best, Angie. Carol’s room is a mess, mine is too clean, you guys would mess it up, Peggy’s is the
first room Joe’d go to, and well, you heard why we can’t go to Patrick’s.
PATRICK: Besides, God knows when Tom’ll get home, and
what condition he’ll be in. He might attack the first female body he sees.
ANGELA: Fine, we’ll stay here. You guys go pack some stuff, and I’ll go talk to Peggy.
They all leave the room. Blackout.

Scene 6
Angela, Peggy, Laura, Carol, and Patrick are all in Angela’s room, dressed in pajamas. There are bags of clothes,
blankets, and pillows all over the room, as well as junk food.
PEGGY: I can’t believe I’m stuck here for the night because you told Joe to kill me! How could you do that?
ANGELA: It was a slip.
PATRICK: A Freudian slip, no doubt.
PEGGY: What the hell is that supposed to mean?
PATRICK: Nothing, just a joke.
PEGGY: Angela subconsciously wanting me to die is a joke?
LAURA: Peg, calm down. No one meant anything. Angela said it by accident. We don’t even know if Joe will do
anything. He’s not exactly a violent guy.
PATRICK: Yeah, but it’s always the quiet ones.
LAURA: Patrick!
PATRICK: What? Everyone knows that.
CAROL: Yeah, but you don’t need to remind us.
ANGELA: Well, what’re we gonna do if Joe shows up? I mean, what do we say?
PATRICK: We say the jig is up, slime ball! Put the pillow on the floor and your hands behind your head!
LAURA: Patrick, be serious! All we do is just see how he acts. If anything weird is happening, then we get rid of
him and call someone.
CAROL: Who are we going to call?
PATRICK: The Ghostbusters! Who else?
PEGGY: Will you please stop joking? My life is at stake!
PATRICK: Oh please.
ANGELA: Well, what constitutes anything weird?
CAROL: If his eyes turn red, or he’s got a chainsaw, something is weird.
PATRICK: Exactly!
LAURA: No! I just meant if he seemed overly hostile --
PATRICK: Okay, the guy is going to be a little hostile. His girlfriend cheated on him when he’s not even getting any,
and now he’s being accused of murder by his friends. Call me crazy, but I think he might act a teensy bit strange.
ANGELA: You know what? Laura’s right. There’s nothing to worry about. Joe isn’t going to do anything.
There is the sound of a person unsuccessfully trying to
open the locked door. Then there is a loud banging on the door.
PEGGY: Oh my God! It’s Joe!
ANGELA: How do you know?
PEGGY: I don’t! But I think it is.
PATRICK: Hey, I have a crazy idea. Why don’t we ask who it is?
Angela looks at the others, then walks to the door.
ANGELA: Who is it?
TOM (slurring his words): Angie baby, lemme in!
ANGELA: It’s Tom, drunk.
She unlocks and opens the door. Tom enters, staggering and slurring his words throughout the scene. Angela locks the door.
TOM: Hey! Since when do ya lock the door?
CAROL: We’re afraid Joe is going to try and kill Peggy.
LAURA: Carol!
TOM: Wow! Awesome! (he sees Patrick) Hey roomie! Listen, I got a girl downstairs waiting to come in, so don’t
come back to the room for awhile.
PATRICK: Okay, you’ll need what, 30, 40 seconds alone with her and then be done?
TOM: Dude! That’s harsh! Hey Angie, you think you could sign the girl in as your overnight guest?
ANGELA: I think they’ll know she’s not staying with me.
TOM: But I’m a guy, so I can’t do it. Besides, I need you to find out her name.
LAURA: You don’t know her name?
TOM: No, not exactly. It’s something like Mary, Carrie, Larry, or something.
PATRICK: Larry?
TOM: Who?
PATRICK: You said Larry.
TOM: Oh, you’ll have to introduce us, I never met him.
PATRICK: Oh Jesus. Just get him out of here.
CAROL: Come on, Tom, I’ll sign her in as my guest.
TOM: I always knew you were cool, Carol, even though you’re a bitch.
CAROL: Gee, thanks. I’ll be right back, guys. Come on Tom.
TOM: Cool! I’ll see you guys later!
Carol and Tom exit. Angela locks the door behind them.
PATRICK: Oh, God, I don’t even want to know what my room is going to look like tomorrow.
ANGELA: Well, maybe this time he’ll make it to the bathroom before he pukes.
PATRICK: Not with my luck.
PEGGY: I am so exhausted.
LAURA: So am I. Maybe we should go to sleep.
ANGELA: Yeah. I’ll just wait up for Carol to let her in. She should be back soon.
PATRICK: Okay, goodnight ladies.
LAURA: Goodnight.
PEGGY: Goodnight.
ANGELA: See you in the morning.
Angela goes and sits by the door, leaving only one lamp on by the computer. The lights fade almost completely
to show the passing of time. Angela yawns and dozes off, leaning against the wall. There is a light knock at the door.
Angela wakes up, and the lights come back up.
ANGELA: Who is it?
CAROL: It’s me!
Angela opens the door, and Carol walks in, closing the door behind her. She does not lock the door.
ANGELA: What took so long?
CAROL: Tom was slobbering all over, and the girl passed out on one of the couches. We tried to wake her up, but
she was out cold, so we had to drag her to his room. Or should I say, I had to drag her to the room. And let me tell
you, she is one girl who should not be wearing a miniskirt and tube top. No wonder she’s with Tom -- he’s the best
she could do!
ANGELA: Whatever. Let’s go to sleep.
CAROL: Yeah, goodnight.
ANGELA: Goodnight.
The girls go to bed. The lamp remains on.

Scene 7
There is a knock at the door, but no one wakes up. The lights come up as the door opens, and Joe enters carrying a pillow. He looks around and sees Peggy on the couch sleeping. He sits on the edge and strokes her face. He lays the pillow on the floor, but not paying attention, he lays it on the face of Patrick, who is sleeping on the floor next to the bed. Patrick begins flailing his arms about.
PATRICK (screaming): Oh my God! He’s trying to kill me! Help! Help!
The others wake up and, seeing Joe staring in shock, immediately jump on him and pin him down.
JOE: What the fuck! Get the hell off me! What are you doing?
PEGGY: You’re trying to kill me, you son of a bitch!
JOE: I am not! Get the hell off me!
PATRICK: It’s okay, I’ve got his weapon! Just hold him down!
JOE: What weapon? What the hell are you talking about?
ANGELA: You’re trying to kill Peggy, just like Othello with Desdemona!
JOE: No I’m not. I came to protect her!
They let go of Joe.
LAURA: What do you mean, protect her?
JOE: I heard Tom staggering around, and I went to see if he was okay. We got to talking, and he told me that you guys were afraid of some guy named Larry who was going to kill Peggy, and you were all in Angie’s room. I figured maybe Larry was the guy she... you know... and maybe he got mad she told me. So I wanted to make sure everything was okay, and stay here for the night.
PATRICK: Then why the fuck did you try to smother me?
JOE: I didn’t try to smother you! I just put the pillow down
while I was sitting next to Peggy.
PEGGY: And why were you sitting next to me?
JOE: I was going to wake you up to talk to you. I don’t want to break up, but we should talk about what happened. I
figured while the others were asleep, it would be easiest to talk, so I was going to wake you up.
PEGGY: So you weren’t going to smother me to death?
JOE: No! Why would you think that?
All except Joe look at Angela.
ANGELA: Okay, so maybe I misinterpreted the reaction.
JOE: What reaction?
ANGELA: Well, you acted weird when I told you about the way Othello killed Desdemona, so --
JOE: So you thought I would kill Peggy?
ANGELA: Well, I don’t know.
JOE: Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. You need to stop reading those books.
PATRICK: See, this is why homework should be made illegal. You see what it does to us?
ANGELA: Well, maybe I’ll change my topic. Maybe I’ll do All’s Well That Ends Well instead.
Blackout.

The End.